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Glite Dictionary
💻 Unofficial app 🍺 Homemade beer 🍺 To make beer
homebrew

homebrew

2 6.7
Unofficial software or hardware made by hobbyists for devices like game consoles
  • noun
  • /ˈhoʊmbruː/
  • Jargon
translation icon : software casero
  • Many gamers enjoy creating homebrew software that expands the capabilities of their consoles.
  • homebrew club
  • homebrew member
  • homebrew computer

Examples

  • He learned about homebrew games at a local meetup where hobbyists exchanged tips and tricks.

  • Sony offered official homebrew support for the first 3-4 years of the PS3, with OtherOS.

    Blog text (33)

  • What happened later on is a story on its own, but they did offer homebrew support to begin with.

    Blog text (33)

  • Maybe a homebrew addition to the website would be nice.

    Blog text (21)

  • Far more than those who only use homebrew.

    Blog text (4)

  • I'm not sure; Sony has offered official homebrew support for every system except the PSP.

    Blog text (33)

  • There's no doubt some homebrew dev will do that.

    Blog text (5)

  • Nintendo has a long history of being hostile to homebrew developers and tinkerers.

    Blog text (11)

  • One of the most bustling tents was populated with hobbyists showing off their homebrew rapid prototyping machines.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The homebrew projects shared at the festival showcased innovative ideas from tech enthusiasts.

Synonyms

home brew
vshomebrew
  • Jargon
1 6.5

Unofficial programs or games made by hobbyists to run on commercial consoles

has identical meaning but is written as one unspaced word

Antonyms

official
∞ 2.3

Approved by a person or group in charge

commercial
56 3.2

Made for sale and often of average rather than high quality

How Official

software product
  • Specialized
4 3.2
code repository
  • Specialized
1 3.8
aftermarket
  • Specialized
4.2
homebrew
  • Jargon
2 6.7

Surface Forms

homebrew singular
homebrews plural

Morphology

homebrew = home + brew (semi-transparent) = home + brew

Composition 'home' + 'brew' is clear (homemade), but its extension to software/hardware is metaphorical and requires cultural knowledge.

Etymology

Homebrew comes from the simple words home ('made at home') and brew ('to make a drink'), and people began to use it by image for things hobbyists make themselves. So a homebrew app or piece of hardware is an unofficial, fan-made creation 'made by enthusiasts' rather than by a company.